Fire-alarm apparatus.



Nu. 692,765. Patented Feb. 4.1902.

. L. CAMPBELL.

FIRE ALARM APPARATUS. (Animation med Juge 1o, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I;

22 j I 026 9 50' w wa No. 692,765. Patented Fen. 4, |902.

L. ('IAMPBELL` F135 ALARM APPARATUS.

(Application led June 10, 1901.) (nq Model.) A 2 sheets-sheet 2 gns'cd., Fumo-umn.. wAsmnaruN. nA c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUDOUN CAMPBELL, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA, AssIGNOR OE ONE-HALE To ROBERT J. THOMAS,- OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

FIRE-ALARM APPARATUS.`

SPECIFICATION formi-ng part of Letters-Patent No. 692,765, Vdated February 4, 1902.

Application filed June l0, 1901.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LOUDOUN CAMrBELL,a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, Vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarm Apparatus, of Which the following is a Specification. l

This invention relates to improvements in fire-alarm boxes Vadapted to detect and expose malicious persons while in the act of sending in a false alarm, and it comprises various means for sounding a local alarm before the box can be opened to send in a fire-alarm and meansfor preventing theimmediate opening of the box after the local alarm is sounded in order that the person endeavoring to send in the false alarm may be detained for a few moments and detected in the act. The locking device upon the box maybe adjusted by the proper authorities to cause any desirable period of delay in Opening the box, and in order to expose the person attempting to send in an alarm at night means are provided for illuminating the immediate vicinity of the box before the key can be operated.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of a fire-alarm `box with my improvements at-` tached and the alarm devices ready'for action, the slidingdoor being removed and the whistle-chamber being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.` Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a portion of the door and the locking device. Figli is a sectional view through the housing above the' box, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, the illuminating-chamber being shown in'central section andthe alarm devices released. Fig. 5 is a front view of the same with the sliding door removed and the illuminating-chamber shown in central section. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the connections between thespringactuated rods and the rod' for lifting the top from the illuminating-chamber. Fig. 7 is a front view ofa fire-alarm box of the kind havinga fragile front provided with myimproved locking device. Fig. 8 is a top plan viewof I the lock illustrated in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a whistle-alarm andy means for operating the same which are different from those shown in Fig. l.

Serial. No. 63,908. (No model.)

' upon the door and bolt, respectively, is adapted to retract the bolt when the latter is released from the locking devices. An openin g 7 is formed in the bolt, and a similar opening 8 is formed in the door of the box, the latter forming a guide for a head 9, movable through the opening and having an inclined face 10, adapted to engage the shoulder llof the bolt and move the latter forward when the head is forced inwardly. A threaded stud 12 is con- 7o nected with the head and projects outwardly beyond the Outer face of the door. Surrounding the opening in the door is a casing 13, in the outer end of which is journaled a nut l5, having a threaded central opening 16, adapted to engage with the threads upon the stud, and a key or handle 17, flattened upon the sides, by which the nut may be turned. It will be seen that when the nut is turned the head 9 will beforced inward or outward, ac- 8o cording to the direction of rotation of thenut. When the head is moved outward, the bolt will be retracted by the spring and the door may be opened, and whenthe head is moved inward the cam-surface 10,engaging the shoul-v der l1, will force the boltfoutward .into engagement with the lug A stop-pin 18 is arranged upon the stud 12 within the casing l3 and adapted to limit the movement of the latter in order that the stud may not become 9o disengaged from the nut or withdrawn from the guide-opening 8. Inord'er to move the head through the entire length of its travel,

it is necessary to turn the unta number of K times, and hence on account of theslow-acting unlocking mechanism thus provided it is vimpossible to instantly Open the door and send in a re-alarrn. In practice the cam-head may be left in such position by the inspector that a single turn or any number of turns of roo the nut will release the bolt, and the time re- Y quired for turningin a fire-alarm Will be correspondingly varied. The key or handle 17 by which the nut is turned is normally locked against turning by a device consisting of a plate 19, secured upon one end of a shaft 20, which is journaled in suitable bearings 21 upon the face of the door, said shaft having an operating-lever 22 connected therewith. When the lever 22 is in its elevated position, (shown in full lines, Figs. 1 and 2,) the plate 19 is opposite the face of the key and the latter cannot be turned. Vhen the lever is drawn outward, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and then downward to its full extent, the plate is moved away from the key and the latter may be operated to turn the nut. It is therefore impossible to send in a lire-alarm without first pulling the lever downward, and this downward movement of the lever is caused to operate suitable local alarms to call attention to the person who is about to send in the lire-alarm. Several such local alarms are illustrated in the drawings, one or all of which may be employed.

As shown in the drawings, a pair ot' pins 25 are arranged upon the free end of the lever 22, and these pins are adapted to engage eyes 26 upon a pair of springpressed rods 27 in the forward part of a housing B, arranged upon the top of the box, and similar eyes 28 upon a pair of spring-pressed rods 29 in the rear of the rods 27, suitable openings 30 being formed in the front of the casing to permit the pins to pass through when the lever is raised. Perforated cross-pieces 3l and 32 are arranged within the housing to guide the rods, and each rod is provided with a collar 33, between which and the support 31 are arranged springs 34, surrounding the rods and tending to force them upward. A resettingslide 35 is arranged upon the front of the housing, and upon the inner face of this slide is arranged a projection 36, which extends over the collars By moving the slide downward the projection 36, bearing against the collars on the rods, forces the latter downward against the action of the springs unt-il the eyes are brought opposite the openings 30, when the rods may be locked with their springs compressed by bringing the lever 22 into the vertical position, the pins 25 passing through said eyes. The spring-pressed rods may be used to operate local alarms of various kinds. As shown in the drawings, in the top of the housing B, above the forward pair of rods 27, are arranged nipples 37, adapted to receive blank cartridges, which are eX- ploded by the impact of the rods 27 when released by the outward movement of the operating-lever 22. Above the housing B is arranged a chamber C, into which the ends of the rear rods 29 protrude when released. This chamber is adapted to hold vessels containing different chemicals which ignite when mixed, which vessels when the rods 29 are released are punctured or broken thereby, and a light is thus produced. The openings in the bottom through which the rods protrude are surrounded by bushings 38, pro jecting upwardly around the rods, so that the liquid in the bottom of the chamber will not escape through the openings. The cap or cover 39 of the chamber C is connected by a rod 40 to a cross-piece 41, which is carried by the rods 29, and when said rods are released to break the bottles containing the chemicals the cap is simultaneously raised, so as to permit the ame to pass outwardly and illuminate the tire-alarm box and vicinity and draw attention to and expose the person turning in the alarm. A wire-netting 42 is preferably placed over the stationary part 43 of the chamber in order to prevent particles of glass, dsc. from being thrown out when the device is operated. 'lhe slide 35 is normally locked in its upper position by a bolt or lock 44, operated by a key which is kept in the possession of the inspector or other ofiicial who has occasion to examine and reset the apparatus or by a' permutation-lock. When it is desired to reset the device after operation, the slide is unlocked and depressed, as previously described. The eyes in the rods are brought into position where they will be engaged by the pins on the operatinglever when the latter is in its vertical position. The slide is then returned to its normal position. Ifafter the apparatus has been set it is desired to make an inspection without sounding the alarm orignitingthe chemicals, the inspector unlocks and lowers the slide and locks it in its lowermost position by turning the bolt 44 with his key into the bolt-hole 45. This prevents the upward movement of the rods, and the operating-lever may then be withdrawn and the key 19 turned to unlock the box.

In addition to the alarm and illuminating devices already described or in lieu of the former a whistle may be operated'by the downward movement of the lever. In Fig. l upon the face of the box-door is shown a whistle 46, connected by a tube 47 to the interior of an air-tight casing 4S. This casing is provided with a screw-cap 49 at its upper end, which may be removed for the purpose of inserting a steel capsule 50 or other vessel containing highly-com pressed air or gas. In the lower end of the casing is fitted a stuffingbox 51, through which operates a pointed pin or rod 52, which is movable vertically by means of a cam 53 upon a shaft 20. Vhen the lever 22 is pulled down, the cam forces the pin 52 upward, and the latter punctures the capsule, thus liberating the gas, which blows the whistle. A perforated casing 54 is arranged around the casing 48 in order to prevent tampering with the parts. Capsules may be removed or inserted by unlocking and lifting the cover 55 and removing the cap 49. In order to inspect the interior of the box without operating the alarm devices the cap 49, which bears upon the capsule,

may be loosened or removed, and the upward movement of the pin 52 will then not puncture the capsule. The whistle may be operated IOC in other ways. In Fig. 9, for instance, 'the inner end of the 'tube 47 bears against -a hol` low plunger 56,which is carried upon'a springlod 27a, operated inthe same manner 1as the' spring-rods in the previously-described,iignres. This plunger extends through an opening in the bottom of the casing 48 and lis closed at its lower end.v An opening 57 is formedin the side of the plunger, and When- In Figs. 7 and 8 the improved threaded locking device is shown in connection with an alarm-box of the kind VinWhich it is necessary to break a glass plate in order to obtain access tothe lock. For such boxes the nut 15 upon the front of the door is inclosed bythe glass casing, and the noise caused by the breaking of the glass will call attention to the person sending in the alarm. The nut is provided With Wings or projections 17, by Which it may be turned,rand.where it is Vdesired to attach other alarm devices a lever like the lever 22 may be arrangedto engage said projections and preventy turning of the nut until the local alarm is sounded. The interior construction of the nut and threaded stud for movingthe cam-piece 9 are substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 3.

The nut which engages the stud upon the cam-block may be of any desirable form having a surface adapted to' engage the lockingl'ever, or, if desired, the stud connected to the cam-block may be made tubular and interiorly threaded, thus constituting a nut, While the part which is shown as a nutin the drawings may be a threaded stud engaging said tubular part, this being merely a reversal of thearrangement shown. In the `claims the part which is turned to move the cam will be referred to as a knob, whatever its form may be.

Having described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-' o l. In a fire-alarm box, the combination With a door anda fastening device therefor, of a knob for operating said fastening device, a

locking device arranged to lock said knob against turning, and an alarm constructed and arranged to be .operated by said locking device when the latter is moved to unlock the knob.

2. Ina fire-alarm box, the combination With a door, and a fastening device adapted to lock and unlock thedoor and arranged toV cause delay in opening the same, of a locking de- `vice arranged to lock and unlock said fastening device, and an alarm constructed and arranged to be operated by said locking device when the latter is moved to release the fastening device.

3. In a vire-ala'irm box, tll'e combination with y a door anda fastening device therefor,` of a.' knob for operating said fastening' device,'av lever arranged to lock said knob against turn!-vr ing, and an alarm constructed and'arranged to be operatedbys'aidlever when the latter is moved to unlock the knob.

i.' In' a nre-a1armb0x, thecombinanoiltvnh the door, of a lock forth'e door, a device for operatingthe lock, vand means for locking' said device a-nd for operating an'alarrn'when fsaid device isa-released, s'aidlockLoperating device being' so constructed as to delay the opening of the door fora suitable Vperiodfof .t

-time after said device is'released.

51' In a fire-alarm box, the combination with '-the' door, of a lockffor the door, a devicefor operating the lock and mechanism 'for lock-v ing saiddevice and for` operating sounding and illuminating alarms when said device is released, said lock-operating device being so constructed as to delay the opening of the door for asuitable period of time after said'mechf' Aanism is'released.

6. The 'combination with .are-alarm box v and a door therefor,'of a fastening device for l said door, a knob and threaded connections between saidknob and said fastening device whereby ,several turns of the knob are re quired `to release' the fastening device, an alarm and mechanism for operating the alarm ing of the knob until said alarm mechanism is moved to operate the alarm.

7. In a fire-alarmbox, the combination' with af door, and an alarm, of a lock for the door,

a fastening device including a knob requiring several turns to unlock .the door, andradevice f or lookin g the knob,said knob-lookin g :device being arranged.` to operate the alarm When moved to unlock the knob.

8.Y In afire-alarm box, the combination with the do"o1, a A knob,` and a fastening device requiring several turns of the knob to unlock thedoer, of a device for locking the knob,

the door, of a device forI locking the knob,-V and means operated by said knob-locking (le--4 ,vice for illuminating lthe vicinity of the box' and sounding an alarm when 'said'device is operated to unlock'the knob.

l0. In a tire-alarm box, thecombination vWith the door', a knob, land afastening vdevice requiring several turns of the knobto unlock tliedoor, of a device for locking the knob,

and one or more spring-pressed rods arranged to be released by said knob-locking device and operate an alarm when said device is moved to unlock the knob. q,

ll. In a fire-alarm box, the vcombination requiring several turns of the knob to unlock 'constructed and arranged to prevent the turn- IIO 4with the door, a knob, and a fastening device 'v the door, of a device for locking the knob, one or more spring-pressed rods arranged to be released by said knob-locking device when the latter is moved to release the knob, and means for locking said rods to prevent their movement when the box is being inspected.

l2. In a rire-alarm box, the combination With the door, a knob, and a fastening device requiring several turns of the knob to unlock the door, of a device for locking the knob, one or more spring-pressed rods arranged to be released by said knob-locking device when the latter is moved to release the knob, a slide adjacent to said rods arranged to reset the springs, and means for locking said slide in two positions.

13. In a fire-alarm box, the combination with the door, a knob, and a fastening device requiring several turns of the knob to unlock it, of a lever arranged to lock and release the knob, and cartridge exploding devices arranged to be released by the movement of said lever.

14. In a fire-alarm box, the combination With the door, and a fastening device therefor, of a lever arranged to look said fastening device, and a spring-pressed rod arranged to be released by said lever and operate an alarm When the lever is moved to release the fasten'- ing device. A

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUDOUN CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

ROBERT WATSON, Gmo. E. TERRY. 

